by Highlanders - The Warriorand the Rose; The Forbidden Highlander; Rescued by the Highland Warrior
“There’s no need to rush,” she said, reaching back to touch him. “It might take a while before we reach the fortress.” Her palm curled around his length, and he sucked in a breath of air when she rubbed him.
“Are you wanting to play, a chrìdhe?” he asked, sliding one hand beneath her skirts. The warmth of his palm against her bare skin was shocking, and she inhaled sharply when another hand stroked her breast. She felt him unfasten the ties of his trews, and a moment later, his hot shaft was pressed against the base of her bottom.
The touch of him made her achingly wet. “I don’t know if I can wait until we get back,” she murmured, groaning when his fingers teased her nipple. She was grateful that the stallion was walking slowly, allowing Dougal to touch her intimately. He cupped her, and she was so wet, she reached back to guide him inside her.
For a moment, he remained sheathed within her while the horse walked. The slight motion of the animal made her shift against him, and she shuddered at the tight sensation. If anyone saw them, they would see only her skirts covering his legs. No one would know that they were joined together in lovemaking, and Dougal thrust against her, using the horse’s gait to ease the penetration.
Inside, her body was throbbing against him. She’d never felt anything so exquisite as his body within her, until he nudged the horse lightly and sent Titan into a trot. Now the rhythm was bolder, and Dougal forced her to rise up while he thrust and withdrew.
“You’re riding both of us,” he said against her ear, using one hand to stroke her breast while he plunged against her. “Don’t fall off.”
It was a fight to keep her balance while he slid so easily within her, and with every bounce of the horse, the nerves within her gathered tightly, rising hard. She sat upon him, letting him fill her deeply, thrusting over and over.
“Dougal,” she moaned, and he doubled his rhythm, grasping her waist and slamming her against him. Her hands dug into the horse’s mane as he filled her, forcing her to grind against him until she went liquid and convulsed around him.
“More,” he ordered, changing the horse’s rhythm back to a walk again, until she was breathless, accepting his hard invasion over and over. She was crying out, but he never stopped his thrusts, pushing into her until at last he let out a shuddering breath and took his own release. Even when the horse continued to move, the aftershocks made her clench around his shaft.
He kissed her neck, and remained inside her while they continued the journey back. “I’m not wanting to start over, Celeste. I want to continue on, where we left off.”
“Then you’ve forgiven me?” She drew his arms around her, feeling as if a weight had lifted from her.
“I said many things out of anger that morning. But you were gone before I could come to my senses.” He nuzzled her neck before he withdrew from her body at last and fumbled with his trews to fasten them again. Even when he adjusted her skirts, she could feel his body pressed close. “I’ll admit, I have a few faults. Not too many, though.”
She laughed at that, drawing his arms close. “You’re a hotheaded man,” she said. Tilting her head back, she added, “Hot-blooded, too, I’d say.”
“With you, I am.” His mouth moved up to her ear, and she trembled at the warm breath against her skin.
“I want to ride faster with you,” she said. “Take me home, Dougal.”
He urged the stallion on, holding her close. Ivory kept up with their pace, and there was beauty in the sight of the two horses running together. Celeste felt so alive in his arms, she could hardly piece together any thoughts.
When he lifted her down, he took her hand in his and led her back to his home. The interior was dim, lit only by the peat fire. She saw the simple pallet on one side, while there was a wooden table and bench on the other. In the small space, she held him tightly. “I thought once that I could never live in a house like this or return to the life I had before I married Edmon.”
His hand moved up to cup her cheek. “And now?”
“Now I wouldn’t care where we lived. So long as you’re with me.” She kissed him hard, holding him fast. “I know I’ll always be safe with you.”
“Stay with me,” he said, drawing his arms around her.
Celeste rested her hands upon his heart. “You told me I have to stay until we know if there’s a bairn growing inside me. What if there isn’t?”
“Then we’ll have to keep trying until there is.” He lifted her into his arms and held her close. “No matter how long it takes.”
EPILOGUE
THE FOAL STOOD on wobbly legs while Ivory licked her newborn. Celeste smiled at the young animal, while Dougal seemed relieved that the birth had gone well. The baby horse had a blend of white-and-black markings, and his mother nuzzled close.
“He’s going to be strong and fast, like his father,” she predicted. Seeing the newborn foal made her heart ache, for within the next month, she hoped to hold their first child.
Dougal stood back and wrapped his arms around her, his hands upon her swollen middle. He stroked their unborn child, dropping a kiss against her jaw. “I believe so, aye.”
She lifted her face to his, and turned to embrace him, smiling. “I have to stand sideways to hold you now. And I haven’t seen my feet in weeks.”
He kissed her, his palm upon her hardened womb. “So long as you’re in my arms, it doesn’t matter, a ghràidh.”
She touched his cheek, so thankful for the gift of this man. They had wed at the end of last summer, and it had not taken long before she’d discovered her pregnancy. Although their life together had been simple, she had found joy with Dougal. He never failed to provide for her, and when she wasn’t helping him with the horses, she’d joined Nairna and Laren, helping them with various tasks at Glen Arrin.
“Melisandre made a discovery yesterday,” she told Dougal. “Do you remember the chest belonging to my father?”
“Lord Eiloch sent it back to you a few days ago.”
“Yes. Melisandre and I had left it behind when we came here. It was empty, but Lionel thought we might want it. At least—” she paused and withdrew a leather pouch “—we thought it was empty.”
Dougal took the pouch and poured the contents into his hand. Seven gemstones—rubies, emeralds and pearls lay in his hand. “Where did you get these?”
“Melisandre found a hidden panel in the chest. The gemstones were inside it.” She’d been so startled by the discovery, she didn’t know what to do with their newfound riches. “I never thought my father had any wealth at all.”
Dougal replaced the stones and handed them back to her. “These did not come from your father, Celeste.”
She stared at him, “Then how did they get there?”
“It was Lord Eiloch’s way of replacing your lost inheritance. Without his wife’s knowledge.”
She sobered and tucked the gems away. It seemed strange to think of Lionel as their benefactor. “Do you think so?”
He nodded, taking her hand and leading her back home. “And it might be that Lady Marguerite’s father, the Duc D’Avignois, pointed out to Lord Eiloch that he was behaving like a common thief.”
Realization dawned over her that Dougal was responsible. The knowing smile on his face gave it away. “You did this,” she said. “Admit it.”
“I promised you on our wedding morn that I would take care of you. For always.” He opened the door to their home where their peat fire had died down to coals. “You’ll never starve or want for anything.”
She reached up to him, touching his face. “I know that.”
His hands came to cover hers, and he leaned in to her. “I love you, Celeste.”
“And I love you.”She rested her cheek against his heart, feeling the blessing of this second chance. “We’ll save the jewels for Melisandre’s dowry. Or perhaps our daughter’s.”
He took them from her and set them aside. “I would lay the world at your feet,” he said. With a mischievous smile, he added, “That is, if I could fin
d your feet.” He knelt down and touched her swollen ankles. “Oh, wait. There they are.”
“I cannot believe you said that.” She rolled her eyes at him, but in his face she saw a gleam of laughter that echoed in her heart. “It’s good that I love you, Dougal.”
And when he led her back to their bed, she knew that he was the best choice she’d ever made.
* * * * *
If you loved “Rescued by the Highland Warrior” by Michelle Willingham, don’t miss To Sin with a Viking (August 2013).
Be sure to also check out these great Highlander titles from Michelle Willingham:
Tempted by the Highland Warrior
“Craving the Highlander’s Touch” (novella)
Seduced by her Highland Warrior
Claimed by the Highland Warrior
Surrender to an Irish Warrior
Taming her Irish Warrior
The Warrior’s Touch
The Irish Warrior
These and other Michelle Willingham titles are available wherever ebooks are sold. Be sure to download your copies today!
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ISBN: 978-14592-4325-5
Highlanders
Copyright © 2013 by Harlequin Books S.A.
The publisher acknowledges the copyright holders of the individual works as follows:
The Warrior and the Rose
Copyright © 2013 by Brenda Joyce Dreams Unlimited, Inc.
The Forbidden Highlander
Copyright © 2013 by Theresa S. Brisbin
Rescued by the Highland Warrior
Copyright © 2013 by Michelle Willingham
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